Show 64 - Supernova in the East III

Dan Carlin, along with other historians, examines the overwhelming Japanese offensive across the Pacific during the early days of the war, drawing comparisons to blitzkrieg due to its speed and formidable execution.

The Japanese unleash a rapid, multi-pronged assault across the Pacific in the early days of the war

The Japanese military swiftly attacked numerous locations in Asia and the Pacific simultaneously, overwhelming American and Allied forces with speed and audacity. This offensive began with the Japanese military leveraging their control of the air and sea to disrupt and outmaneuver defenders. They relied on tactics like night attacks, infantry infiltration, and amphibious landings.

The Japanese military swiftly attacks numerous locations in Asia and the Pacific simultaneously, overwhelming American and Allied forces with speed and audacity

The Japanese blitzkrieg unfolded simultaneously and coordinated across Asia and the Pacific within the first 48 to 72 hours of the war. At the same time as the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese bombers targeted Wake Island, and forces landed in Northern Malaya. Other concerted operations included assaults on the Philippines, Guam, Wake, Midway, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

The Japanese leverage their control of the air and sea to disrupt and outmaneuver the defenders, relying on tactics like night attacks, infantry infiltration, and amphibious landings

Carlin discusses the Japanese strategy of rapid expansion to capture necessary resources and fortify captured areas, drawing parallels to the World War I Western Front but across islands and archipelagos. They executed maneuvers such as the amphibious assault across the Straits of Johor under fire, and the Allies suffered catastrophic events due to missteps such as the British naval force lacking an aircraft carrier.

The Japanese offensive is described as a "blitzkrieg" that leaves the Allies struggling to respond and reeling from the rapid loss of territory. Dan Carlin and historians note the speed of conquests was shocking. Targets were hit in dominos, leaving the Allies little time to catalog, much less respond effectively. The Japanese mastered night maneuvers, tank warfare, and psychological tactics, like hand-to-hand combat and imitation of enemy forces, contributing to the terror felt by Allied troops. Japanese forces quickly took control of air and sea, cutt ...

General Douglas MacArthur's initial defense plan for the Philippines and the Battle of Bataan reveals not only strategic miscalculations but also the valiant efforts of overwhelmed Filipino and American forces.

General Douglas MacArthur develops an overambitious plan to defend the Philippines that proves unworkable

General Douglas MacArthur, in charge of defending the Philippines, was faced with daunting challenges as he planned to counter the Japanese threat. Despite concerns from military leadership, particularly in the Navy, who considered the Philippines indefensible due to their proximity to Japan, MacArthur was insistent on his strategy. Convinced he could drive the Japanese back into the sea, he rejected the concept of retreat and defense of a smaller area, known as War Plan Orange 3. Instead, he insisted on a plan to repel any invasion forcefully.

However, this plan relied on poorly trained and equipped Filipino and American forces. Many of these troops had never even seen their weapons or ammunition until the Japanese approached their shores, let alone trained with them. MacArthur, having helped build the Philippine army from scratch over five to six years, seemingly overestimated the readiness of the forces that were composed mostly of green recruits unfamiliar with combat. His sluggish response to the initial Japanese moves and insistence on positioning forces in vulnerable locations further exacerbated the situation. MacArthur's strategy started to crumble within 48 hours of the initial assault, forcing a chaotic and ill-prepared retreat to the Bataan Peninsula.

The American Air Force in the Philippines was quickly decimated, and the Philippine units, subjected to constant bombardment and attacks, began to be defeated. MacArthur, recognizing the dire situation and asking for help, was convinced to leave on March 12th for Australia, promising to return. His escape to Australia marked a significant moment in the defense of the Philippines.

The Allied forces on Bataan put up a dogged but ultimately futile resistance against the Japanese

Undermanned and under-resourced, the Bataan Peninsula became the last stronghold for the Allied defense against the Japanese onslaught. Led by General Jonathan Wainwright, the forces represented a mix of readiness, with some units being capable but the majority not adequately prepared to face the experienced Japanese military. Wainwright's troops, often fighting in torturous jungle conditions, faced attrition, starvation, and disease, eventually being worn down.

General Wainwright asked for permission to retreat almost immediately after the Japanese invasion began, hinting at a fast collapse of MacArthur's plan. This retreat revealed a critical flaw: the necessary supplies that should have been stockpiled in anticipation of a protracted siege lacked due to the initial plan or had fallen into Japanese hands. Within two weeks of combat on Bataan, the situation was determined unsustainable.

The area's topography included heavy jungle and volcano-traversed terrain, which initially provided strategic defensive positions and was instrumental in heroic delaying actions by Allied forces. But as these forces endured the chaos of retreat and the disasters that came with it, the Japanese employed effective tactics. These included infiltrators who took advantage of the terrain, and vicious assaults that eventually decimated the Allied defense.

The battle culminated in a major offensive by over 65,000 Japanese troops, supported by an arsenal of aircraft and heavy artillery. Notably, they launched a ground assa ...

The campaign shaped by Douglas MacArthur's and General Wainwright's leadership decisions reveals a complex picture with MacArthur facing both adulation and criticism, including criticism for being out of touch with reality on the ground. Wainwright, confronting impossible situations, has to make tough decisions under the shadow of MacArthur's larger-than-life persona.

Douglas MacArthur's leadership is controversial, with both supporters and critics

MacArthur's leadership style and decisions during the campaign have become a point of great debate. While some view him as a heroic and defiant commander, critics view him as dramatic, egotistical, and disconnected from the ground realities. Roosevelt's relationship with MacArthur started lukewarm and deteriorated further over time. Despite his clashes with military leadership in Washington, DC, and most of the admirals, except for Admiral Bull Halsey, MacArthur's high profile had given people, especially in the Philippines, hope in his capability to work military miracles.

The Filipino people had tremendous faith in MacArthur’s military abilities, holding on to the belief that he could achieve significant feats against the odds. His detractors called him phony and suggested that he issues orders or makes demands that seem disconnected from the situational realities. Despite this, his grandiose public persona made him untouchable, and he was too prominent a figure to dismiss without significant repercussions.

Admiral Hart, puzzled by MacArthur's unrealistic demands, doubted his sanity, and MacArthur’s requests for resources and reinforcements that were not available characterized him as a pain to his cohorts and superiors. MacArthur's initial plan to drive Japanese forces back into the sea was idealistic, displaying a disconnect with the harsh realities faced by his troops.

MacArthur clashes with the US Navy and other military leaders, demanding reinforcements and resources that cannot be provided

MacArthur's contentious relationship with military leadership included issues with the Navy and was well-known. Demanding operations like strikes on the Japanese home islands and vocal criticisms accusing the Navy of claiming an inexistent naval blockade showcase the clash over resources and reinforcements. His resistance to plans involving Navy assistance and his history of jabs at naval operations continued to strain this relationship.

When ordered to evacuate the Philippines, MacArthur reluctantly leaves, promising to "return" and leaving the remaining troops under General Wainwright's command

MacArthur was forced to evacuate the Philippines, making an iconic promise to return. His departure from the Philippines, under harrowing circumstances, has been scrutinized, especially by those who remained and endured subsequent suffering, viewing it as abandonment. In MacArthur’s memoirs, he suggests he e ...